TITLE: Happy Birthday William
AUTHOR: Erin M. Blair
E-MAIL: eblair@sonic.net
CLASSIFICATION/CATEGORIES: SRA--Story, Romance, Angst
CONTENT: Mulder/Scully Romance. William Fic.
DISTRIBUTION/ARCHIVE STATEMENT: OK to Gossamer,
Ephemeral, MSR Fanfic Cheerleaders Archive. 
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: Existence then AU.
SETTING: AU after Season Eight.
DISCLAIMER: Mulder and Scully belong to Chris Carter.
DATE: Completed September 1, 2004.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Jen for the beta reading
this story; I would also like to thank Kelly for the challenge. 
SUMMARY: It's William's third birthday! More changes
are in store for Mulder and Scully.

*This story is for MSRPreservationSociety's June 
Challenge. The details are below in the author's 
notes.*

---------------------------------------------
Happy Birthday William
by Erin M. Blair
---------------------------------------------

The little boy was excited when he woke up,
knowing that it was his birthday. 

His third birthday. 

He quickly ran to his parents' bedroom. His 
chubby hand patted his mother's arm. "Mommy! 
Wake up!" 

Scully woke up. Her blue eyes were trying 
to focus on her excited son and she lowered 
her voice, trying not to disturb Mulder. "William, 
what's wrong?"

"I'm OK, Mommy. It's my birthday!"

Scully smiled at her son. "I know, Will."

"Can I wake up, Daddy? Please, Mommy?"

Scully's smile deepened. "I think we should 
wait until he wakes up on his own. He had 
a hard day yesterday." She got up from the
bed and put on a robe. She looked at
her son as she sat down on the bed. She
looked into William's eyes and smiled at 
him. "You're three today."

"I know," William said with a grin. "Can I open
my presents now?"

Scully laughed. She couldn't believe he already
knew about presents. "You have to wait for Grandma
today. She's coming today to bring you a gift."

"Yay!" exclaimed William. "More presents!"

"William, yes -- but you have to wait until she
gets here."

"I'll wait, Mommy."

"Scully? William?" Mulder mumbled. He tried
to focus on his wife and son. He got up slowly
and then he kissed her gently on her full red
lips.

"Mulder, I'm sorry we woke you," Scully
murmured in his hair. She gave him a kiss on the
nape of his neck. "William's excited about his 
third birthday today."

"I know, Scully," Mulder said with a smile. "I hope
his excitement doesn't wake up Katherine and 
Melissa." 

Scully's voice lowered a decibel as she whispered
into her husband's ear. "I think they'll be all right
for now."

"I hope so, Scully. I really hope so."

"Come on, Mommy and Daddy. I want to open
my presents."

"Do you think we should let him?" Mulder asked
in a teasing tone. 

"Oh, I think we should give him at least one of his 
presents now."

"That's a good idea, Scully."

Scully went to pick up one of the wrapped packages
for her son. "I think he'll like this one. He loves bright
blue wrapping paper."

Mulder smiled, "Aww, good choice." He paused as he
whispered into Scully's ear. "He's going to get mad when
he realizes that it's clothes."

Scully smiled at him. "I think you're right, Mulder." She
paused. "He's very intelligent for his age." 

"Mommy! Daddy! I want to open my present!" 

*  *  *

"Dana?"

"In the kitchen, Mom!" Scully called out to her
mother. She was in the kitchen, making breakfast
for her family. 

Maggie Scully entered the kitchen and she placed
her present for William on the clean kitchen table. "How's 
the birthday boy?" 

"He already opened one present from Mulder and me this
morning. We couldn't satisfy him for long, Mom."

"Oh, I can understand."

Scully made a face as she reflected on what had happened when
they gave William one of his presents early that morning. "So 
he opened one of the packages. It turned out to be clothes. You 
should have seen his distaste." 

"You did that, Dana, when you were little."

"Really? I really don't remember."

"When you were William's age," Maggie said with 
a laugh. 

"Grandma!" William exclaimed happily. His grin was 
infectious. 

"Come here, William. You've grown since the last time I
saw you," Maggie said. She stroked his light brown
hair and she could see the red highlights in the sunlight
shining in through the windows. 

"You always say that every time you come over,
Mom."

"I know. I'm always intrigued by the changes I see
in him." She paused. She turned her attention towards
her grandson. "I bet you can't wait to open all your 
presents."

"Oh, I want presents."

"Remember to say please, William."

"Mommy!"

"Where's Fox?"

"Mulder's out picking up the cake."

"Is it just going to be us -- you, Fox, William, Katherine,
Melissa and me -- or will there be people from your 
work?" Maggie asked. 

"Mulder and I pretty much wanted a small gathering
this year. I think after everything that happened
a few years ago, we didn't want anything to intrude. 
After all, it's William's day. Besides, we're going to 
have another party for him later in the week at his 
daycare at the FBI. So Skinner, John Doggett, Monica 
Reyes, et al will be there." 

"I bet William's thrilled about that."

Mulder came in carrying a pink box. "I've got the 
cake and the candles, Scully." He noticed his 
mother-in-law with William. "Hi, Maggie. William's
been excited about seeing you today."

"Daddy, can I open my presents now?"

"We have to get ready for our birthday party and
your mother has to get the girls ready." 

"Katherine and Melissa are ready, Mulder. They're
in their playpen in the living room."

"Maybe you should move them into the kitchen?"

"Mulder -- "

"I'll watch them, Fox."

Mulder looked relieved. "Thanks, Maggie." He paused.
He looked at his wife and he knew that she was upset.
"I'm sorry, Scully, if I overreacted. I don't want anything
to happen."

"Mulder, I know it's been no picnic sometimes, but I 
love them. You know that."

"I do know that, Scully. It's just that I never thought 
this would happen. We thought you were barren not
too long ago."

"I would think after I became pregnant the second 
time that you would know that it wasn't true," Scully
said. "I know we believed it so much that we doubted
what William was at first." She was glad that William
was with her mother and their twin daughters. 

"I know, Scully. We were both lied to by the doctors,
by the Kurts. They even showed me your ova. When
they said they took all of them -- I believed them. I didn't
even think..."

"I know. If I was in your position, I would have believed
the same thing. This is proof  that I can get pregnant again."

"Scully?"

Scully nodded. "I know. I wanted to tell you last night,
but you were asleep when I did the test. Then William
wanted us to...  Mulder, I'm pregnant."

"You're...."

Scully nodded again. "Pregnant. I know; I know. I still
can't believe it myself."

"You're telling me..."

"Mulder, I know it's a shock."

"Color me speechless. I thought after Katherine and
Melissa, we wouldn't have anymore. The doctors said -- "
Mulder said with a sigh. He needed some time to 
think about this wonderful news. It was wonderful. William,
Katherine, and Melissa were miracles they thought they
would never have. 

Not after everything they had been through together.

"I know, Mulder. I'm going to take it easy. You know
that. The risks are very high this time. I know what 
you're thinking, but I'm going to take every precaution."

"You almost died, Scully. We were on vacation...and I --"

"This time it's going to be different. I can feel the 
hope. It's going to be all right."

"Mommy! Daddy!" They heard their son calling out
for them. "Presents time."

"I think he wants us, Scully."

Scully nodded. "Let's see what William gets."

"But you already know what we got him."

"I know. You have to get his big present out
of the closet."

"All right," he said. 

She watched Mulder walk down the hallway towards
their bedroom. She sighed in relief when he returned 
minutes later carrying a huge box and then placed it
down carefully by the other presents from loved ones
and friends. She bent down to the little boy. "This is 
from your Daddy and me."

"Can I open it now, Mommy?"

Scully nodded. "Go ahead." 

Mulder and Scully sat down besides William and helped
him tore off the wrapping paper. The little boy grinned happily
when he saw what it was -- a small, red tricycle -- that was 
perfect for William's height and age. "We wanted to get you 
something that you could have fun with 

"Cool!" William exclaimed happily. "I love it!"

"You can also use it at my house, William," Maggie said
as she held two wiggly, squirming twin girls.  She had 
a feeling that Scully and Mulder would buy him one. "I think I
better give Katherine and Melissa to your parents." She held
them while Scully took Katherine and then Mulder took 
Melissa.

"I think it's time for the girls to settle in for a nap," Mulder 
suggested. 

Scully nodded. "They already had their nap, Mulder."

"Mommy? Daddy? I want to open Grandma's present
now."

"Okay, William," Scully said. Her smile brightened up
the room. She loved seeing William happy. When William
gleefully shouted with joy, she turned to look at Mulder,
who was smiling. There were tears brimming in his eyes,
but she knew he was happy.

They were all happy with the family they now had. She
patted her stomach, knowing of the joy they were going
to have soon.

-- the end -- 

Feedback: Yes, please. Send to: eblair@sonic.net 

Author's Notes:

This story was written for June challenge at 
MSRPreservationSociety mailing list. The 
challenge is the following: Mulder and Scully 
deal with William's third birthday. The fic can be 
angsty or happy whatever you prefer. Good 
Luck and Happy Writing."

I would like to thank Kelly for providing this 
challenge. Thanks to Jen for beta reading this 
story for me.